Electric body-wear



(No Model.)

B. S. MEARS. ELECTRIC BODY WEAR. Na /176,473. Patented June '7, 1892.

3 Wuan vboz UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

ROBERT S. MEARS, OF NEXVTON, KANSAS.

ELECTRIC BODY-WEAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 476,473, dated June '7, 1892.

Application filed November 27, 1891. Serial No. 413,207. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ROBERT S. MEARS, a citizen of the United States, residing at N ewton,in the county of Harvey and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Body-W'ear; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to apparatus adapted to be worn under the clothing for applying weak currents of electricity to the human body.

This invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the parts forming the apparatus, as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of the apparatus, showing the cover of the battery removed and the supporting'pocket in section. Fig. 2 is a plan view from above of the battery and its supporting-pocket. Fig. 3 is a central vertical section through the battery. Fig. 4 is a side view of one of the electrodes, showing its case in section. Fig. 5 is a rear view of the electrode-case.

A is the cell of the battery, formed of hard india-rubber orother similar materialsuch as vulcanized fiber-and preferably of a form which may be carried in the inside pocket of a vest without inconvenience to the wearer. The cell is provided with a cover a, of hard india-ruhber, which covers the whole of its front and fits tightly over the projecting ledges a around the cell.

B is the supporting-po ket. This pocket is preferably made of flexible india-rubber; but it may be made of any other flexible material. This pocket is open at the top, so that the cell may be slipped into it, and it is provided with a buttonhole b or with any other fastening device-such as a safety-pin-by which it may be secured to the clothing.

The pocket B is intended for use when it is inconvenient to oarrythe cell in the inside pocket of the vest or in any other pocket of the clothing. This pocket B is useful in retarding the evaporation of the electrolyte in the cell and in preventing the clothing from being soiled, should any of the electrolyte leak out, and it may also he slipped into the vest pocket with the cell inside it, if desired.

The pile inclosed in the cell consists of plates of zinc 0, plates of copper c, and layers of felt c. The plates of zinc and copper may be soldered together at one end, if desired, to facilitate their arrangement in the cell between thelayers of felt. The pile rests against the sides and the back of the cell; but a space D is left between the front of the pile and the cover of the cell.

E E are the two binding-posts of the battery, secured to the top of the cell. A metallic spring (Z is secured to the binding-post E and bears against the top of the pile. This spring conducts the current from the top of the pile to the post E and also keeps the elements of the pile in position and prevents them from sliding forward into the space D.

A flexible insulated wire 6 is secured to the post E, and is provided with a wedge-shaped copper plate 6, which is slipped under the bottom of the pile. This wire 6 conducts the current from the bottom of the pile to the post E, and the strength of the battery may be varied and reduced by withdrawing the plate 6 from under the bottom of the pile and inserting it between the elements of the pile at any desired distance from the bottom. The wedge-like shape of the plate e permits it to be inserted between the felt and the plates at any point without difficulty. The wire 6 is bent in the space D in front of the pile and permits the plate 6 to be inserted at any part of the pile.

The binding-posts E E have cylindrical portions f, which project from the top of the cell, and F are tubes to which the insulated conductors G G are connected and which slip tightly over the said portions f. The usual screws are dispensed with, as these screws are .inconvenient in the pocket and are apt to become unscrewed by the movements of the person. The tubes F present no sharp edges to wear away the clothing, and they may be coupled to and uncoupled from the portions f very readily. The conductors G G are of any convenient length, and when the cell is carried in the inside pocket of the vest they are slipped through eyelet-holes in the shirtfront and in the underclothing.

Each conductor is provided with an elecj into the body.

trode II, which consists of a disk provided with a loop h on its back. The front of the disk is polished, and the back of the disk and the loop are covered with any approved insulating material 7t.

I is a band or strap, which passes through the loop h and is adapted to secure the electrode against any desired portion of the body of the wearer.

In order to prevent the electrodes from burning the skin, each electrode is covered with a removable case .I, consisting of a front plate of flannel 7' or other similar absorbent material and a back plate of india-rubber j.

These two plates j j have their edges permanently secured together by cement or by rows of stitches, and the india-rubber plate j has a slit 7t, through which the loop h projects. The elasticity of the plate j prevents the case J from coming oif the electrode, and the said plate j also prevents the electricity from being absorbed into the moist underclothing instead of passing through the flannel plate The battery may be recharged in a few minutes by removing the felts and replacing them with others. The electrolyte used to moisten the felts is preferably sharp cider vinegar; but any other weak acid may be used.

What I claim is- 1. The combination, with the pile and its inclosing cell, a space being left between the front of the cell and the pile, of a bindingpost at the top of the cell, and a flexible wire situated in the said space and provided with a metallic plate, whereby the lower part of the pile is connected with the said bindingpost, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the removable pile, of the cell inclosing the pile, the cellcover at the front of the cell, a space being left between the said cover and the pile, a binding-post at the top of the cell, a flexible wire secured to the said binding-post, and a wedge-shaped plate secured to the said wire and adapted to be inserted at any part of the pile when the cell-cover is removed to vary the strength of the current, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with the removable pile, of the cell inclosing the pile, a bindingpost secured to the top of the cell, and a metallic spring adapted to connect the said bin ding-post with the top of the pile and to hold the elements of the pile in position in the cell.

4. The combination, with the inclosing cell provided with a cover at its front part and the pile, a space being left between the said pile and cover, of a binding-post at the top of the cell, a flexible wire provided with a contact-plate and arranged in the said space and adapted to connect the lower part of the pile with the said binding-post, a second bindingpost at the top of the cell, and a spring adapted to connect the said second binding-post with the top of the pile and to retain the elements of the pile in position in the cell, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with the cell and the pile inclosed therein, of the binding-posts secured to the cell and connected to the opposite ends of the pile and provided with cylindrical portions projecting from the cell, and the conductors provided with tubes adapted to fit over the said cylindrical portions, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination, with an electrode formed of a metallic disk provided with a loop, the back of the said disk and the loop being coated with insulating material, of a case for the electrode, consisting of a front plate of absorbent material and a back plate of india-rubber provided with a slit through which the said loop may project, the said plates being secured together at their edges, substantially as set forth.

I11 testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT S. MEARS. lVitnesses:

FRANK HUNTINGTON. J. XV. PATTERSON. 

